Pipeline Personnel Qualification

ASME B31Q Update

Presented byJerry Schmitz, P.E.Southwest Gas Corporation

B31Q Technical Committee Chair

Historical Perspective 1999: PHMSA published Operator Qualification

(OQ) rule 2002: NTSB labeled Operator Qualification as

“unsatisfactory” 2003: PHMSA issued 13 areas they considered as

gaps in the rule 2003: Four public meetings held to address the 13

issues 2003: ASME B31Q Project Team formed to develop

a technically sound, holistic, consensus standard for the qualification of pipeline personnel

2005: PHMSA amended OQ rule to address training, on-the-job performance and reporting significant plan changes

2006: ASME published the first edition of B31Q

13 Implementation Issues Scope of OQ inspections Evaluation of knowledge, skills and abilities Re-evaluation intervals Maintenance vs. New Construction Treatment of Emergency Response Missing covered tasks (excavation) Extent of documentation Generic vs. task specific Abnormal Operating

Conditions Treatment of Training Criteria for small operators Use of directing and observing Noteworthy practices Persons contributing to an accident

ASME B31Q

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) selected as entity to help develop and house standard

ASME B31Q committee selected – State and Federal Regulators – Operators from all segments of the industry– Contractor community– Industry Associations– Trade Associations– Vendors

Started August 2003 and published 2006

ASME B31Q

Underlying Principles of ASME B31Q

Scope covers tasks that impact the safety or integrity of the pipeline

Technically based Prescriptive and Performance

options – Performance options should have

higher expectations on processes– Limited number of simple processes

for each technical issue with freedom to develop operator’s own methods

Underlying Principles of ASME B31Q

Clear – should be clear and concise

Durable – adequate for multiple cycles

Complete – answers all known technical issues

Sound – technically sound foundation

Use existing rule where practical Not a regulatory document

Major Aspects of ASME B31Q

Based on holistic approach to address OQ programs in full, not pieces

Addresses 12 of PHMSA’s 13 implementation issues

Fourteen chapters in B31Q– Prescriptive language– Performance language (equivalent

options for all major requirements) Eight Non-mandatory Appendices

– Integrated Task List

B31Q Standard Content

Foreword Introduction Definitions References Qualification

Program Determining

Covered Tasks Abnormal Operating

Conditions Training

Evaluation Qualifications Portability Program

Effectiveness Communicating the

Qualification Program and Managing Changes

Documentation Requirements

Bibliography

Non Mandatory Appendices Appendix 5A – Integrated Task

List Appendix 5B – Summary of

IntegratedTask List

Appendix 5C – Task List Development Process

Appendix 5D – Evaluation Criteria

Non Mandatory Appendices Appendix 6A – Abnormal

Operating Conditions (AOCs) Appendix 8A – Evaluation Method

Selection Appendix 9A – DIF Analysis for

Subsequent Qualification Intervals Appendix 11A – Program

Implementationand Effectiveness Appraisals

ASME B31Q Benefits

Standardized task list Standardized requalification

frequencies Identifies key qualification

components Allows for portability Rationales are embedded in

document Accepted by PHMSA

Overview of B31Q Committee Part of B31 Committee History

– B31Q Project Team– B31Q Technical Committee

Membership– 32 voting member positions– About 10 contributing members

Organization of Committee Chair Vice-Chair Secretary Teams (Sub-Committees)

– Team 1: Technical Issues – Task Related– Team 2: Technical issues – Non Task Related– Team 3: Administrative

Membership Diversity– Hazardous Liquids - Federal Regulators – Gas Transmission - State Regulators– Gas Distribution - Contractors– Small Operators - Labor– Industry/Trade Assoc. - Vendors

Key Issues Being Addressed Work-in-progress from 2006

Standard Editorial refinement New tasks Other items

Work-in-Progress from 2006 Standard Portability Jobs vs. Tasks Qualification exemptions New construction

Editorial Refinement

Program effectiveness AOC list items Scope and forward revisions Typographical corrections

New Covered TasksUnder Consideration

Purging Pigging Operations and maintenance of

auxiliary equipment– Dehydrators– Separators– Heaters– Coolers

Other Non Task Related

Items Under Consideration

New technology Long-term degradation of physical

abilities

Ways to Participate

Comments to secretary Work through members Attend meetings Upcoming meetings

– Nashville, October 20-21, 2009– Albuquerque, March 2010

Web site: www.asme.org– Search on B31Q Committee

ANSI Process

Technical Committee approval B31 Committee approval Public comments Publication of approved revisions

Standards vs. RegulationsKeeping Things in Perspective

International standards No jurisdictional bounds Regulators can adopt all or part of

a standard

PHMSA Perspective

B31Q addresses the OQ non-compliance issues found to date.

PHMSA has publicly stated –” If you meet ASME B31Q, you will meet the regulation.”

Summary

Value of current standard More work to be done Your participation is welcome Using the standard now and in

the future

Questions